Sun is the world's largest manufacturer of Unix computer workstations and the developr of the Java programming language.
Mr Simon is currently working with members of the Kanban group, led by Neil Wilhelm and Mario Wolczko, investigating techniques for improving the performance of Java JIT (just-in-time) compilers, as well as porting the Java Virtual Machine to the PalmPilot.
JIT compilers operate in a real-time interpreted environment, therefore performance is an issue of importance.
He will return to the University next month to pursue a PhD with the Centre for Software Maintenance under the supervision of Dr Cristina Cifuentes, who will herself spend her sabbatical at Sun in the second half of next year.
Dr Cifuentes' work on binary translation and Java technology is partly sponsored by Sun.